"Cloudy days are the best days to take photos." - @brayanmess

Meet Brayan, a Bostonian with a secret. His feed is clean and modern, with New England flourishes here and there. Find out more about him, his inspirations, and his big secret in our latest interview.

How and why did you get into content creation?

I have always loved taking photos, but once I discovered Instagram – a platform where I could share my photos with the world, I began taking photography seriously. Having Instagram has allowed me to showcase the beautiful city I am proud to call home and has encouraged me to travel to other cities and countries to explore and capture their beauty.

Where do you find your inspiration?

I find inspiration everywhere. I especially enjoy changing my route whenever I go home, to work, to restaurants, etc., because sometimes I stumble upon the most beautiful places that inspire me to take certain photos. A lot of my inspiration also comes from the people I follow on Instagram, especially when it comes to trying different styles of photography.

How do you decide what to share and what to keep private?

I decided what to share and what to keep private based on how much information I want my followers to know about me. While there are a lot of people who are comfortable sharing every single detail of their life with their followers, I do not find it necessary.

What is the best-kept secret in Boston?

The best-kept secret in Boston has to be Bay Village. While most people are familiar with Beacon Hill, Bay Village is a tiny version of it, just 15 minutes away.

Any tips and tricks you'd like to share with other creators?

Depending on your aesthetic, cloudy days are the best days to take photos due to the fact that the light is diffused evenly.

What camera and editing software do you use?

Since I started my Instagram account about five or six years ago, I have only been using my iPhone to take and edit my photos. Currently, all of my photos are taken with the iPhone 8 plus and edited using VSCO and Snapseed.

How would you describe your aesthetics?

As of late, I think my aesthetic could be described as clean and minimal.

Tell us something no one knows about you.

While my friend’s know this, most of my followers don’t know that I was originally born in Medellin, Colombia, but was raised in Boston.

What's been your favourite piece of work to date?

This past summer, I had the opportunity to travel to Newport, Rhode Island to watch the first ever J Class World Championship from a gorgeous replica of the 1923 Columbia yacht. After watching the race for about 30 minutes, we learned that we would have the opportunity to jump on a speedboat and get to experience the race up close. It was an unbelievable experience and I’m happy I was able to capture it and share it with my followers!

The best thing about being a creator?

The best thing about being a creator is definitely the ability to showcase your vision. After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Favourite people to follow on Instagram?

Some of my absolute favorite people to follow on Instagram are @StevenFingar, @MelissaMale, @MrEssentialist, @Monaris, @BrightBazaar, @MarcForne, and @VisualMemories

If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?

Have the courage to live a life true to yourself, not the life others expect of you.